Anti-rattler for thill-couplings



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y DE WITT' HOLDEN.

A-NTI-RATTLER POR THILL COUPLINGS. No. 421,713.

Patented Feb. 18, 1890.

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UNITED STATES `l PATENT OEEICE.

DE VITT HOLDEN, OF FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE.

ANTI-RATTLER FOR TH|L\LCOUPL|NGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,713, dated February 18, 1890.

Application filed May 7, 1889. Serial No. 809,961. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.2

Be it known that I, DE WITT HOLDEN, a citiz en of the United States, residing at Frank- 11n, In the county of Williamson and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Anti-Rattlers for rlhill- Couplings; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an attachment for vehicles, consisting of the Inechanism here- Inafter described, the object of which is to so arrange the parts as to prevent the noise that usually accompanies loose-tting joints and connections.

Figure l is a side View of my invention properly attached to that'part of the vehicle where it is intended to be used. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective showing' how the combination of the different parts is to be effected, while Fig. 4 Is a grouping of some of the minor details.

A indicates the clip for encircling the axle of the vehicle, having the usual projection .for forming connection with the tongue or shaft. To the under side of this clip I attach, by means of the nuts on same, a piece of spring-steel ,projecting rearwardly, and then bent downward and forward in such a manner as to somewhat resemble the letter U.-

For the purpose of preventing the rattle caused by the eye of the shaft loosely fitting in the clip A, I arrange the anti-rattler piece E as follows: This spring is to consist of a piece of' well-tempered steel, and is to be an inch wide (more or less) at its top, and tapering toward the bottom to a width of onehalf an inch (more or less) and is to be pivotally connected to buckle D. The Wide or upper end. of anti-rattler E is slit downward in two places, dividing the middle one-third of such piece. This middle onethird is to be bent forward for contact with the eye of the shaft or tongue, While the outside thirds are to be inclined rearwardly against the clip A. It will thus be observed that the top anti-rattler E is substantially V-shaped, as shown in Fig. 4. Afterinserting anti-rattler piece E between the eye of the shaftor tongue and the clip, I attach the lower end of same pivotally to the buckle D, the lower part of such buckle being connected in like manner to the forward end of spring B, as shown in Fig. l. To the outside of the eye of the clip I attach, by means of the usual bolt, (indicated H,) the guide F, which is so bent as to extend downward slightly below the lower edge ofthe eye of the clip, and then bent inward at right angles, so as to form a parallel line with the lower surface of such eye. the guide last described is a slot of the width of the piece E, one side of such slot being cut out about one-third near its middle for the purpose of receiving the anti-rattler piece E and securely holding the same in a perpendicular position. The perpendicular part of guide F is firmly riveted on the end of draw-bolt I-I, holding it firmly in position.

Onv this part of In operation the anti-rattler piece E is inserted between the eye of the shaft and the clip. The middle one-third of such piece presses against the eye of the shaft, While the outward thirds are in contact with the clip, and when the connection between such piece E and the springBis effected by means of the buckle-shaped piece D it will be observed that the V-shaped top of the antirattler E is drawn snugly between the eye of the shaft and the lclip in such a'rnanner as to prevent any rattling or other noise. The

antirattler piece E may be released by raising the detached end of spring B, thereby forcing the piece E upward until the narrow part at. its lower end is reached, when it may be readily withdrawn from the opening in the slot of the guide F. The bolt H may be withdrawn, thereby releasing the eye of the shaft or tongue.

My invention can readily be applied to any vehicle using a tongue or shafts.

Having described my invention,what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is-A In cornbination with a thill-coupler for ve hicles, the V-shaped spring B, the guide F,

bent so as to form a right angle near its mid dle and rigidly connected at its upper end with the bolt H, and a slot in its lower part forV engaging with spring E, the spring E IOD wider at its upper end, such end being so eut spring E, all substantially as described, and

as to separate it into three equal parts, the for the purpose named. 1o middle third being bent forward, while the In testimony whereof I affix my signaturein outer thirds incline rearwardly, and connected presence of two witnesses.

at its lower end pivotally with the middle l DE VVIT'I HOLDEN. part of buckle D, the lower part of which is Witnesses: to engage with spring B, while its middle is J. Il. IARKES,

connected pivotally with the lower part of T. J. REDMOND. 

